Images, video and audio from this Web site are provided without login for the purpose of editorial use only.
You must contact media@ford.com to obtain approval for advertising, marketing or other commercial users.
Ford Media Center
INFOGRAPHIC 1: Getting Older is No Excuse
INFOGRAPHIC 2: Adventurous Allusions
INFOGRAPHIC 3: Excuses Galore
INFOGRAPHIC 4: Sky's the Limit
INFOGRAPHIC 5: Mapping your Bucket List
INFOGRAPHIC 6: There's Nothing Like the Thrill of Your "First Time"
Ford Motor Company celebrates Mustang’s influence on popular culture with the launch of ICON50 – a unique campaign designed to explore culture and inspire Americans to embrace the sense of freedom and adventure new experiences can create.
A new survey, commissioned by Ford as part of ICON50, suggests Americans value adventure more than they demonstrate in real life. When ranking attributes Americans wish to communicate via their digital presence, “I’m adventurous,” at 30 percent, ranks higher than “I’m successful,” at 28 percent, and “I have a lot of friends,” at 24 percent. Yet nearly half of the adults surveyed, 45 percent, feel their social media friends or followers appear more adventurous online than they actually are. These findings indicate that what Americans convey about how adventurousness they are does not equate with their true expressions of adventure.
To celebrate Mustang’s 50th anniversary, Ford assembled a group of cultural experts in music and entertainment, the culinary arts, sports and technology to identify the next wave of cultural drivers and inspiring locales to help encourage a sense of adventure among Americans.
Experts from Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos, Zagat, ESPN The Magazine and Mashable will help curate a list of 50 innovators and design a themed driving route in celebration of Mustang’s 50th anniversary. Timed to the official arrival of the all-new 2015 Mustang in dealerships across the country, the program will provide consumers with a cultural road map to encourage them to get behind the wheel and explore. The fifth collaborator will be named next year as the campaign expands with cross-country drives and consumer events.
“For five decades, Mustang has represented some of the best of American popular culture, inspiring a feeling of freedom, independence and adventure,” said Jim Farley, Ford executive vice president, Global Marketing, Sales and Service. “We are excited to celebrate the iconic Mustang and encourage fans to embrace its spirit of adventure and try new cultural experiences.”
Why adventure matters
There has never been a better time for Americans to test drive new cultural experiences. Additional findings from the ICON50 survey highlight the importance of trying something new, and shed light on what is holding people back. The survey found:
“From pop songs to hashtag campaigns, America is having a love affair with ‘happy’ right now,” said Brian Balthazar, TV personality and pop culture expert. “Capturing that emotion can be elusive, and that’s why these findings are so compelling. Embarking upon everyday adventures can enrich our lives and make us feel amazing.”
Why Mustang is a pop culture icon
Early on, Mustang’s unique combination of style, performance and affordability established an entirely new class of sporty car. Its impact goes well beyond the more than 9.2 million cars sold in its 50 years of continuous production. Mustang has made thousands of appearances in film, television, music and video games, and – with close to 8 million likes – is the most-liked vehicle on Facebook.
Now, the most advanced version yet, the 2015 model features an all-new, sophisticated design and a host of innovative new technologies and connectivity systems.
The all-new Ford Mustang goes on sale this fall in the United States, and – for the first time in its history – globally to customers in more than 120 countries next year, including right-hand-drive markets.
For more information on ICON50 and to view the curated lists, please visit http://www.fordmustangicon50map.appspot.com/#.
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for customers and deepen their loyalty. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services. The company does that through three customer-centered business segments: Ford Blue, engineering iconic gas-powered and hybrid vehicles; Ford Model e, inventing breakthrough electric vehicles along with embedded software that defines exceptional digital experiences for all customers; and Ford Pro, helping commercial customers transform and expand their businesses with vehicles and services tailored to their needs. Additionally, Ford provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 174,000 people worldwide. More information about the company and its products and services is available at corporate.ford.com.